Unless you're swimming in warm water all the time, a full sleeve is probably best. Any of the major brand names (and even the non major names) have good entry level wetsuits. I have Orca, QRoo, and DeSoto suits (well, just the DeSoto Speedtube pants) and they're all good. What matters most is the fit.

There's no real need to have a separate wetsuit for training and racing. I have multiple ones because the Orca is sleeveless and the QRoo is fullsleeve.

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Originally Posted by jsharr

A girl once asked me to give her twelve inches and make it hurt. I had to make love to her 3 times and then punch her in the nose.

Unless you're swimming in warm water all the time, a full sleeve is probably best. Any of the major brand names (and even the non major names) have good entry level wetsuits. I have Orca, QRoo, and DeSoto suits (well, just the DeSoto Speedtube pants) and they're all good. What matters most is the fit.

There's no real need to have a separate wetsuit for training and racing. I have multiple ones because the Orca is sleeveless and the QRoo is fullsleeve.

+1

I think its a lot like bikes, once you get over the very entry level (non-tri specific) suits, the laws of diminishing returns really comes into play. For the avg age grouper I don't think there is much difference between a $200 suit and a $500 suit.

Having made the mistake however, there is a world of difference between a $100 non-tri suit and a $200 tri specific suit.

Here's my experience. I have an orca speedsuit. Works well in salt water but does not give the bouyancy I like for fresh water. Have bought bought a two piece which is 2 mil for the top and 5 mil for the torso and thighs. You now have the full of my wetsuit knowledge.

I must agree with the law of diminishing returns in terms of speed, however, I would take such advice on this particular purchase with a grain of salt. Here is why. The cheaper the suit, the fewer panels, and peices, and layers will GENERALLY go into it. What you start to see at higher levels is the employment of a greater variety of materials in the interest of ergonomics, not just buoyancy and hydrodymanics. For instance, the top of the line blueseventy suit has the helix around the chest, shoulder, and shoulderblades to help free up arm movement. A lot of great swimmers out there will advocate sleeveless wetsuits in order to protect from fatigue and promote flexibility.

In swimming, effort is far less important than form (something that, after studying pretty in depth) cannot be said to have the same effect in biking or swimming. As such, taking the hit in price may be worth it if you decide to opt for the top of the line sleeved suit.

I personally bought a blueseventy energie last summer. I have only had 1 wetsuit triathlon thus far. I did pretty well, but not that I am swimming with substantially higher volume (I'm doing Ironman CDA this summer) I am beginning to wish I had gone for a sleveless, even though lake Coeur d'Alene is so cold. Keeping your deltoids relaxed for an hour of swimming is devinitely worth the tradeoffs you need to make (a little discomfort from the cold, or a flimsier wallet from a more expensive, but more flexible suit. Of course, the underlying premise here is that fit IS EVERYTHING. I'm just in a bit of a precarious position because I have a pretty long torso, which is going to cause more pull than many suits (like the DeSoto...although I'm not willing to buy a wetsuit I cannot first try on, and nobody in St. Louis stocks them).